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Before the 1800’s immigrants experienced significant hardship and adaptation. They faced long perilous journeys, uncertain living conditions, and challenges of integrating into new societies.

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In 1982 a guy named Plyler v. Doe does significant in its recognition of access to education to education for all students in the U.S regardless of immigration status.

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The typical pattern for Hispanic immigrants and college was low college attendance in the 2000’s because they didn’t have the economic and social resources others had.

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Increase of Hispanic population enrollment 

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Increase of Hispanic population enrollment 

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Population growth accounts for only a small share of the 24% Hispanic college enrollment spike from 2009 to 2010. Around this time the population of 18-24 year old Hispanic grew by 7%.

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The percentage of Hispanic immigrants enrolling to college has increased to 33% in 2021. Hispanic were the most likely to be the first-generation college students than others.

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The first position parents that believe that college degree is necessary for obtaining stable and meaningful work. Parents hold for their children and in the expectations that young people have for themselves. Hispanic in the United States have an educational experience is accumulated disadvantaged. They begin formalizing schooling without economic and social resources that many other students receive.

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Barbara Schhneider, Sylvia Martinez, Ann Ownes

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Barriers to Educational Opportunities for Hispanics in the United States - Hispanics and the Future of America - NCBI Bookshelf

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For Hispanics in the United States, the educational experience is one of accumulated disadvantage. Many Hispanic students begin formalized schooling without the economic and social resources that many other students receive, and schools are often ill equipped to compensate for these initial disparities. For Hispanics, initial disadvantages often stem from parents’ immigrant and socioeconomic status and their lack of knowledge about the U.S. education system. As Hispanic students proceed through the schooling system, inadequate school resources and their weak relationships with their teachers continue to undermine their academic success. Initial disadvantages continue to accumulate, resulting in Hispanics having the lowest rates of high school and college degree attainment, which hinders their chances for stable employment. The situation of Hispanic educational attainment is cause for national concern.

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The second positions is that Hispanic deal with challenges but despite these challenges they also highlighted resilience and optimism of Hispanic immigrants population. Regardless of their current economic situation most Hispanic immigrants reported a higher quality if life in the U.S than other countries. While many face challenges circumstance vary with those who are higher income and who have a green card, valid visa or citizenship faring better across many measures.

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Note: This content was updated on February 14, 2024 to correct the description of how states were classified in terms of expansiveness of coverage for immigrants.
Executive Summary

Hispanic immigrants comprise the largest share of the immigrant population in the U.S., and about a third of Hispanic or Latino adults in the U.S. are immigrants. This report provides an in-depth look at the varied experiences of Hispanic immigrants living in the U.S. and highlights the unique challenges many face, as Hispanic immigrants are more likely than other immigrant groups to have limited English proficiency (LEP), be noncitizens, have lower household incomes, be uninsured, and have lower levels of educational attainment. This report details how these factors affect the experiences of Hispanic immigrants, including at work, in their communities, and in accessing health care and other services.

Despite these challenges, this report also highlights the resiliency and optimism of the Hispanic immigrant population. It reveals that, regardless of their current economic situation, most Hispanic immigrants report a higher quality of life in the U.S. than in their countries of birth and believe their children's lives will be better than their own. Most Hispanic immigrants are working, one in four of whom report being self-employed or a small business owner, and many provide financial support to family in their countries of birth even when their own incomes are limited. Moreover, while many face challenges, circumstances vary across Hispanic immigrants, with those who are higher income and who have a green card, valid visa or citizenship faring better across many measures. However, some difficulties, such as unfair treatment in the workplace, are shared across Hispanic immigrants regardless of income or immigration status. Enhanced understanding of Hispanic immigrant experiences not only provides insight into the diversity of the population but can also help focus initiatives, policies, and resources to help address the challenges they face. (For a shortened, Spanish-language version of this report, click here.)

This report is based on The Survey of Immigrants, conducted by KFF in partnership with the Los Angeles Times during Spring 2023, the largest and most representative survey of immigrants living in the U.S. to date. With its sample size of 3,358 immigrant adults, including 1,207 Hispanic immigrant adults, the survey provides a deep understanding of immigrant experiences, reflecting their varied countries of origin and histories, citizenship and immigration statuses, racial and ethnic identities, and social and economic circumstances. KFF also conducted focus groups with immigrants from an array of backgrounds, which expand upon information from the survey (see Methodology for more details). Other reports from this survey include an overview report, a health and health care experiences report, a report on politics and policy and a r eport examining Asian immigrant experiences.

Key Takeaways

A majority of Hispanic immigrants in the U.S. are from Mexico, are long-term U.S. residents, and are employed; yet they face significant socioeconomic challenges. Hispanic immigrants include people born in Mexico (53%), Central America (17%), South America (16%) as well as smaller shares from other regions and countries. Three in four (77%) Hispanic immigrants have been in the U.S. for ten years or longer and two-thirds (67%) are employed, yet a majority live in lower income households (less than $40,000 per year). Two-thirds of Hispanic immigrants have limited English proficiency (LEP) and a similar share have a high school education or less. A majority (56%) are noncitizens, including one in four who are likely undocumented.

Like immigrants overall, most Hispanic immigrants came to the U.S. for better opportunities and most feel they are better off as a result of immigrating, with those from Central America especially likely to cite safety as a key benefit. About eight in ten Hispanic immigrants say they are better off compared to their own parents, and two thirds say they think their children's lives will be even better, with particularly high levels of optimism for their children's future among noncitizens and those from Central America.

Most Hispanic immigrants are employed, yet many face unfair treatment in the workplace even among those who are citizens, are English proficient, and have at least a college degree. Two-thirds (67%) of Hispanic immigrants are working, mainly in hourly jobs. Despite high rates of employment, most have annual household incomes under $40,000 leading to challenges affording basic needs. Among working Hispanic immigrants, at least half (55%) report experiencing discrimination in the workplace. Even among those who are citizens (45%), are English proficient (41%), and who have at least a college degree (52%), substantial shares say they experience mistreatment at work because they are an immigrant.

Among the two-thirds of Hispanic immigrants who have limited English proficiency (LEP), most report experiencing language-related challenges. A majority (58%) of those with LEP say that difficulty speaking or understanding English has made it hard for them to access key services or get a job. Hispanic immigrants with LEP also report higher rates of workplace discrimination and difficulty understanding U.S. immigration laws compared to those who are English proficient.

Substantial shares of Hispanic immigrants, particularly those who are likely undocumented, say they lack sufficient information about U.S. immigration laws and policies, worry that they or a family member could be detained or deported, and have confusion about rules related to the use of public programs that help pay food, housing, or health care. About eight in ten (79%) Hispanic immigrants, rising to nine in ten of those who are undocumented, are uncertain whether use of public programs that help pay for health care, housing or food can decrease one's chances for green card approval or incorrectly believe this to be the case. Four in ten Hispanic immigrants, including three-fourths of those who are likely undocumented, worry that they or a family member could be detained or deported.

Hispanic immigrants, particularly those who are uninsured, face many challenges when it comes to accessing health care. Overall, one in four (26%) Hispanic immigrants are uninsured, but this share rises to over half (55%) among those who are likely undocumented, compared to 26% of those with a green card or valid visa and one in ten (10%) of those who are citizens. While most Hispanic immigrants have sought and recently received care in the U.S., those who are uninsured are much less likely than those with coverage to have utilized care, with just half (50%) of uninsured Hispanic immigrants having a health care visit in the past year compared with over eight in ten (82%) of those with coverage. Uninsured Hispanic immigrants also are less likely than their insured counterparts to have a usual source of care and a trusted provider and are much more likely to report skipping or postponing care in the past year.

Community health centers (CHC) are the predominant place Hispanic immigrants usually go to when they are sick or need health advice and facilitate access to care for those who are uninsured. Overall, four ten (41%) of Hispanic immigrants say a CHC is their usual source of care, with substantial shares using CHCs across insurance types, immigration status, and English proficiency. CHCs are a national network of  safety-net primary care providers  serving low-income and medically underserved communities
Who Are Hispanic Immigrants?
Reasons For Coming And Life In The U.S.

Like immigrants overall, a majority of Hispanic immigrants say they came to the U.S. for better economic and job opportunities (91%), a better future for their children (83%), and for better educational opportunities (81%), with many from Central America also citing more rights and freedoms and escaping unsafe or violent conditions as reasons. Hispanic immigrants from Central America stand out compared to Hispanic immigrants from Mexico and South America as having larger shares who say they came to the U.S. for more rights and freedoms (84%), to escape unsafe or violent conditions (74%), and to join or accompany family members (68%). Larger shares of Hispanic immigrants from the Caribbean also say having more rights and freedoms (86%) and to join or accompany family members (65%) were reasons for coming to the U.S.

About eight in ten Hispanic immigrants say they have a better quality of life in the U.S., and Central American Hispanic immigrants are particularly likely to say their safety is improved as a result of coming to the U.S. Most Hispanic immigrants say they are better off than in the country of their birth when it comes to their educational opportunities (85%), their financial situation (82%), their employment situation (81%), and their safety (81%). About nine in ten Central American Hispanic immigrants (88%) say their safety has improved as a result of moving to the U.S., reflecting their reasons for coming to the U.S.

Most Hispanic immigrants say their own standard of living is better than their parents' was at their age and that their children's lives will be better than theirs, including those with lower household incomes. About eight in ten (78%) Hispanic immigrants say their standard of living is better compared with their parents at their age, and two-thirds (67%) say they think their children's lives will be better than theirs. Smaller shares of Hispanic immigrants say they think their children's lives will be worse (10%) or about the same (15%). Lower income Hispanic immigrants are as likely as those with higher household incomes to say their current standard of living is better than their parents' was and similar shares are optimistic about their own children's futures. Hispanic immigrants who are noncitizens (73%) and those from Central America (75%) are particularly likely to say they are optimistic for their children's futures.

In addition to feeling that their lives are better in the U.S., about half of Hispanic immigrants support their families and friends in their country of birth by sending money at least occasionally, including among those with lower household incomes. Hispanic immigrants from Central America (62%) are more likely than those from South America (45%) or the Caribbean (46%) to say they send money at least occasionally. About half (53%) of Hispanic immigrants from Mexico send money at least sometimes. Hispanic immigrants with lower or moderate household incomes are more likely than those with higher household incomes to say they send money at least occasionally (53% vs. 58% vs. 38%).

Eight in ten Hispanic immigrants say they would choose to come to the U.S. again. Asked what they would do if given the chance to go back in time knowing what they know now, eight in ten Hispanic immigrants (80%) say they would choose to come to the U.S. again, including similarly large shares across income, immigration status, and country/region of origin. While most Hispanic immigrants share this sentiment, overall, fewer than one in ten (7%) immigrants say they would not choose to move to the U.S. and about one in ten (13%) say they are not sure whether they would choose to move to the U.S.

Overall, about six in ten (63%) Hispanic immigrants say, thinking about their futures, they plan to stay in the U.S., but about one in six (17%) Hispanic immigrants from Mexico say they plan to move back to Mexico. Overall, about one in five Hispanic immigrants say they want to move back to the country they were born in (13%) or to another country (7%), and about one in six (17%) say they are not sure if they plan to stay in the U.S. A bare majority (54%) of Hispanic immigrants who are likely undocumented say they plan to stay in the U.S., while one in four say they either plan to move back to their country of birth (20%) or move to a different country (6%) and a further one in five (20%) are not sure. One in six Hispanic immigrants from Mexico say they want to move back to their country of birth (17%), compared to smaller shares of those from South America (7%) and the Caribbean (2%).

Work Experiences

Most (67%) Hispanic immigrants are working, mainly in hourly jobs, of whom about one in four (27%) are self-employed or the owner of a small business. Similar to the overall immigrant population, two-thirds (67%) of Hispanic immigrants report they are currently employed for pay, including three-quarters (75%) of those ages 18-64. Most employed Hispanic immigrants report working for hourly pay (60%), while one in five (20%) say they are paid by the job and a similar share work for a salary (19%). Hispanic immigrants who are likely undocumented (30%) are more likely to say they are paid by the job compared to those with a valid visa or green card (20%) or those who are naturalized citizens (14%). Conversely, those who are naturalized citizens are more likely than noncitizens report they have a salaried job, with one in four (25%) saying they receive a salary. Despite these differences, most Hispanic immigrants across immigration statuses report working in hourly jobs. Nearly half (46%) of Hispanic immigrants with a college degree say they are overqualified for their jobs, compared to about one in four (23%) with less than a college degree.

About half of working Hispanic immigrants report experiencing discrimination at work, including seven in ten likely undocumented Hispanic immigrants and six in ten Hispanic immigrants with LEP. At least half (55%) of all Hispanic working immigrants say they have ever been treated differently from people born in the U.S. doing the same job at work in at least one of five ways asked about on the survey, including being given fewer opportunities for advancement (37%), being paid less for doing the same job (34%), not being paid for all the hours worked or not given overtime pay for which they were eligible (29%), being given worse shifts or less control over their work hours (17%), or being harassed or threatened by someone in their workplace because they are an immigrant (14%). Due to lack of work authorization, undocumented immigrant workers face disproportionate employment challenges and are at increased risk for workplace abuses and violations. Reflecting these increased risks, most (70%) undocumented employed Hispanic immigrants report they have experienced at least one form of workplace discrimination, including about half (52%) who say they have been paid less for doing the same job as someone born in the U.S. and four in ten (41%) who say they were not paid for all their hours worked. Additionally, six in ten (61%) working Hispanic immigrants with LEP say they have experienced at least one form of unfair treatment in the workplace. However, even among those who are citizens (45%), are English proficient (41%), and who have at least a college degree (52%), substantial shares say they experience mistreatment at work.

Financial Situation

Household incomes among Hispanic immigrants vary widely by immigration status. A majority (56%) of Hispanic immigrants live in lower-income households (under $40,000 annually), including three-quarters of those in households with at least one undocumented resident. However, Hispanic immigrants who live in a household in which everyone is a citizen are five times more likely have household incomes of $90,000 or more than those who live in a household in which at least one person is likely undocumented (21% vs. 4%).

Four in ten Hispanic immigrants say they can pay their monthly bills and have money left over each month, including eight in ten (82%) among those in higher income households, however, six in ten say they are just able to pay their bills each month (40%) or have difficulty paying their bills each month (19%). The ability to pay monthly bills varies widely by household income, with about seven in ten in lower income households (less than $40,000 annually) saying they either are just able to pay their bills (46%) or have difficulty doing so each month (26%), and the large majority of those in higher income households ($90,000 or more annually) saying they have money left over each month (82%).

Many Hispanic immigrants in lower income households have difficulty affording basic needs. Overall, about four in ten Hispanic immigrants (43%), rising to half (50%) among lower income households, say their household has had problems paying for at least one of the following necessities in the past 12 months: utilities or other bills (27%), health care (25%), rent or mortgage (21%), or food (20%), with this. The shares who report facing these financial challenges are also larger among Hispanic immigrants who are likely undocumented (53%) and those from Mexico (47%) given that these groups are more likely to have lower incomes. In addition, Hispanic immigrants who are parents are more likely than those who are not to have problems paying for at least one of these (49% vs. 40%).

Where Hispanic immigrants live also affects their financial situation and stability. For example, Hispanic immigrants living in California are more likely than those in other states to report problems affording basic needs, particularly housing, likely reflecting the high cost of living in the area. About half (49%) of Hispanic immigrants living in California say they have had difficulties paying for necessities, including about one third (32%) who cite difficulties paying utilities or other bills, about three in ten (28%) who say they have had problems paying their rent or mortgage, and one in four who have difficulty paying for food (26%). Hispanic immigrants in Texas are about half as likely as those in California to say they have had problems paying for housing costs (13% vs. 28%).

Limited English Proficiency And Language Barriers

A majority of Hispanic immigrants with LEP report language barriers in a variety of settings and interactions, including one in four (23%) parents who say that difficulty speaking or understanding English has made it hard for them to communicate with their child's school or teacher. Overall, two-thirds of Hispanic immigrants have LEP, meaning they speak English less than very well, including about seven in ten among those from Mexico (70%) and Central America (68%) compared with about six in ten among those from the Caribbean (60%) and South America (58%). Among Hispanic immigrants with LEP, a majority (58%) say that difficulty speaking or understanding English has ever made it hard for them to do at least one of the following: receive services in a store or restaurant (38%); get health care services (36%); get or keep a job (33%); apply for government financial help with food, housing, or health coverage (27%); or report a crime or get help from the police (21%). One in four (23%) Hispanic immigrant parents with LEP say difficulty speaking or understanding English has made it hard for them to communicate with their child's school or teacher.

Immigration-Related Fears

About three in four (76%) Hispanic immigrants who are likely undocumented worry they or a family member may be detained or deported. However, worries about detention or deportation are not limited to those who themselves are likely undocumented. Even among Hispanic immigrants who are naturalized citizens, one in five (20%) say they worry they or a family member could be deported, and about four in ten immigrants (42%) who have a green card or other valid visa say they have this worry. Largely reflecting the higher shares who are likely undocumented, Hispanic immigrants from Central America (48%) and Mexico (46%) are more likely to express concern about detention or deportation than are Hispanic immigrants from South America (32%) or the Caribbean (23%).

Substantial shares of Hispanic immigrants who are likely undocumented say they have avoided certain activities because they didn't want to draw attention to their or a family member's immigration status. This includes about one in five (21%) Hispanic immigrants overall, rising to nearly half (46%) of those who are likely undocumented, who say they have avoided things such as talking to the police, applying for a job, or traveling because they didn't want to draw attention to their or a family member's immigration status. In addition, about one in ten (13%) Hispanic immigrants say they have avoided applying for a government program that helps pay for food, housing, or health care in the past 12 months because of concerns about immigration status, including about three in ten (31%) of those who are likely undocumented.

U.S. Immigration Policy Knowledge

Most (78%) Hispanic immigrants say they feel the U.S. immigration system has treated them and their families fairly, but one third of those who are likely undocumented say they feel they have been treated unfairly. Largely reflecting their higher rates of being likely undocumented, about one in five Hispanic immigrants from Mexico (21%) and Central America (21%) say they and their family have been treated unfairly. Likely in part a reflection of the policy that granted Cubans who reached U.S. soil prior to 2017 a fast track to U.S. citizenship, the vast majority (94%) of Hispanic immigrants from the Caribbean say they and their families have been treated fairly by the U.S. immigration system.

A majority (55%) of Hispanic immigrants, including about seven in ten (72%) of those who are likely undocumented, say they do not have enough information about U.S. immigration policy to understand how it affects them and their family. Most Hispanic immigrants who have a green card or valid visa (56%) and about four in ten (42%) naturalized citizens also say they lack sufficient information. Beyond differences by immigration status, the groups who are more likely to say they do not have enough information to understand how immigration policy affects them and their families include Hispanic immigrants with LEP as well as those who have been in the U.S. for fewer than ten years, have lower household incomes, and those with lower educational attainment levels. In contrast, majorities of naturalized citizens, those who are English proficient, those who have been in the U.S. for longer, and those with higher incomes and educational attainment levels say they have enough information.

Most Hispanic immigrants are uncertain about how using assistance for food, housing, and health care may affect their immigration status. Under longstanding U.S. policy, federal officials can deny an individual entry to the U.S. or adjustment to lawful permanent status (a green card) if they determine the individual is a " public charge" based on their likelihood of becoming primarily dependent on the government for subsistence. In 2019, the Trump Administration made changes to public charge policy that newly considered the use of previously excluded noncash assistance programs for health care, food, and housing in public charge determinations. This policy was rescinded by the Biden Administration in 2021, meaning that the use of noncash benefits, including assistance for health care, food, and housing, is not considered for public charge tests, except for long-term institutionalization at government expense. However, the survey suggests that many Hispanic immigrants remain confused about public charge rules. About six in ten (59%) Hispanic immigrants say they are "not sure" whether use of public programs that help pay for health care, housing or food can decrease one's chances for green card approval and another one in five (19%) incorrectly believe this to be the case. Among Hispanic immigrants who are likely undocumented, nine in ten are either unsure (69%) or incorrectly believe use of these types of public programs will decrease their chances for green card approval (20%).

When asked where they would go if they had a question about U.S. immigration policy, most Hispanic immigrants say they would look to a government website (30%), an internet search engine like Google (27%), or an attorney or other professional (26%). Hispanic immigrants who are likely undocumented are more likely to say they would seek information from an attorney or other professional (45%) than are immigrants who are naturalized citizens (15%) or have a green card or valid visa (28%). Hispanic immigrants who have LEP are twice as likely to say they would go an attorney than those who are English proficient (32% v. 16%). As reported by the LA Times, immigration scams, particularly pretending to be an attorney are rampant, which may pose risks for undocumented immigrants.

Challenges Accessing Health Care

About one in four (26%) Hispanic immigrants are uninsured, rising to over half (55%) among those who are likely undocumented. About one in four (26%) of those with a green card or other valid visa report being uninsured and just one in ten (10%) of those who are citizens say they lack coverage. Uninsured rates are also higher among those who have lower incomes and LEP. The high uninsured rates among noncitizen and lower income Hispanic immigrants likely reflect lower levels of private coverage due to disproportionate employment in lower income jobs that are less likely to offer employer-based insurance. Medicaid coverage helps offset some, but not all, of this gap, as many noncitizen immigrants remain ineligible for federally funded coverage programs. Many lawfully present immigrants face a five-year waiting period to enroll in Medicaid or Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) coverage, and undocumented immigrants are prohibited from enrolling in any federally funded coverage, including Medicaid, CHIP, Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace, and Medicare coverage.

Where Hispanic immigrants live also makes a difference in their coverage rates, with higher rates of coverage among those living in states that offer more expansive coverage. States vary in the coverage they provide for their low-income population overall as well as for immigrants specifically. Those that have adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion have broader eligibility for low-income adults overall, but noncitizen immigrants still face eligibility restrictions for this coverage. Some states have expanded coverage for immigrants by eliminating the five-year waiting period in Medicaid and/or CHIP for lawfully present immigrant children and/or pregnant people and/or extending coverage to some immigrants regardless of immigration status through fully state-funded programs. Immigrants in states that have taken up more of these coverage options are less likely to be uninsured. For example, the uninsured rate for Hispanic immigrant adults in California is much lower than it is in Texas (14% vs. 37%). California has adopted the ACA Medicaid expansion to low-income adults, expanded coverage for recent lawfully present immigrant children and pregnant people in Medicaid and CHIP, and began providing fully state-funded coverage regardless of immigration status to children in 2016 and to some adults in 2019. In contrast, in Texas, Medicaid eligibility for adults remains limited to very low-income parents (16% of the federal poverty level or about $4,000 per year for a family of three), and the state does not provide any state-funded coverage for immigrants. Even in states offering more expansive coverage, about one in five (19%) Hispanic immigrants remain uninsured, which may, in part, reflect enrollment barriers for those who are eligible such as lack of knowledge or confusion around eligibility rules, immigration-related fears, difficulty completing enrollment processes, and/or language barriers.

Overall, most Hispanic immigrants have sought health care in the U.S., and about three in four have seen a health care provider in the past year, but health care use is much lower among those who are uninsured and those who are likely undocumented. Reflecting the large role health insurance status plays in facilitating access to care, uninsured Hispanic immigrants are less likely to say they have sought or received care in the U.S. and to say they have seen a provider in the past year compared with insured Hispanic immigrants. Half of uninsured Hispanic immigrants report having a health care visit in the past year, compared to about eight in ten (82%) of their insured counterparts. Likely undocumented Hispanic immigrants and those with LEP also are generally less likely to report seeking or receiving care than their citizen and English proficient counterparts, although there is no significant difference in the share who have had a health care visit in the past year by English proficiency. In addition to higher uninsured rates among these groups, immigration-related fears and language barriers may reduce their use of care.

Most Hispanic immigrants say they have a place to go when they are sick or need health advice other than an emergency room, with four in ten (41%) saying they go to a neighborhood clinic or health center, also known as a community health center (CHC). Substantial shares of Hispanic immigrants, regardless of their insurance type, immigration status, English proficiency, and household income say a CHC is their usual source of care, highlighting their importance as a source of care for Hispanic immigrants overall. CHCs are a national network of safety-net primary care providers serving low-income and medically underserved communities, including communities of color, uninsured people, immigrants, and those in rural areas. Research shows that CHCs offer linguistically and culturally competent care to underserved racial and ethnic groups as well as people with LEP and that these services can positively impact patient satisfaction.

Uninsured Hispanic immigrants are much less likely than their insured counterparts to have a usual source of care other than the emergency room or to have a trusted doctor in the U.S. and are more likely to report skipping or postponing care. About one in five (22%) Hispanic immigrants say they do not have a usual source of care other than the emergency room, rising to over one in three of those who are uninsured (38%) or likely undocumented (36%). Moreover, while two-thirds (66%) of Hispanic immigrants overall say they have a trusted doctor or health care provider in the U.S., majorities of those who are uninsured (69%) and likely undocumented (56%) say they do not have a trusted doctor in the U.S. In addition, Hispanic immigrants who are uninsured are more likely than those who have insurance (35% vs. 21%) to say they have skipped or postponed health care services in the past 12 months.

Among Hispanic immigrants who sought care in the U.S., about three in ten (28%) report being treated unfairly by a health care provider based on at least one of several factors asked about, and four in ten (41%) report at least one of several difficulties obtaining respectful and culturally competent care asked about on the survey. Specifically, about three in ten (28%) say that since coming to the U.S. they have ever been treated unfairly by a health care provider because of their insurance status or ability to pay (18%), their accent or how well they speak English (17%), and/or their race, ethnic background, or skin color (15%). Additionally four in ten (41%) say they experienced one or more of the following challenges, including a provider not taking the time to listen or ignoring concerns (19%); a health care provider not explaining things in a way they could understand (18%); being treated with disrespect by front office staff (11%); and, among those with LEP who completed the survey in a language other than English, interpretation services not available or provided in a timely manner (19%). Notably, there are few differences among Hispanic immigrants in the share reporting experiencing at least one of these challenges by coverage, income, or immigration status.
Acknowledgements:
KFF would like to thank the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, the Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Dr. May Sudhinaraset, the National Immigration Law Center, the National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrants, and UnidosUS for their invaluable inputs, insights, and suggestions throughout the planning, fielding, and dissemination of this survey project.

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Most Hispanic Immigrants Say Their Lives Are Better In The U.S. But Face Financial And Health Care Challenges: The 2023 KFF/LA Times Survey of Immigrants | KFF

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Hispanic immigrants represent the largest share of the immigrant population within the U.S.. They face unique challenges that vary across immigration status, educational attainment, and other socioeconomic factors, however, many remain optimistic about their quality of life in the U.S..

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The third position the reasons why latinos are struggling to obtain college education are complex. They are disproportionately poor, living in low-income communities that school aren’t preparing kids for rigor for college courses. As they enter adulthood they start to support their families and don’t have the opportunities to focus on schoolwork.

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Latino Americans, the largest and the fastest growing ethnic minority in the United States, are half as likely to hold a college degree as non-Hispanic white adults, an education gap that has been widening since 2000, according to a June 2018 report.

"For us, it was surprising just how low the Latino degree attainment numbers are and how significant the gaps are in certain states," said Andrew Howard Nichols, senior director of higher education research and data analytics at The Education Trust, a nonprofit group that conducts research and advocates for low-income students. "Everyone is pushing degree attainment. But we won't reach our goals for a college-educated workforce if we ignore the racial gaps that exist."

Fewer than a quarter, or 22.6 percent, of Latino Americans ages 25 to 64 held a two-year college degree or higher in 2016, the report said. By comparison, more than 30 percent of black American adults had a college degree, and nearly half, or 47.1 percent of white adults did. That's nearly a 25 percentage point gap in college attainment between Latinos and whites.

Latino education varies a lot from state to state. In Florida, a third of Latino adults hold a college degree. The number of Latinos with college degrees is rapidly growing in Florida and the Latino-white gap is one of the smallest at 10 percentage points. However, Florida has large Cuban and Puerto Rican populations, many of whom come from well-educated families. Roughly 40 percent of Cuban Americans and 30 percent of Puerto Ricans have college degrees. By contrast, only 17 percent of Mexican Americans have college degrees, with many Mexicans emigrating from poor, uneducated regions in Mexico. Florida's success with Latino higher education may have more to do with the particular Latinos who live in Florida than with how the state supports Latino students academically or financially.
Related: Most immigrants outpace Americans when it comes to education - with one big exception
New York's statistics are also confounding. More than a fourth of the state's large Latino population has a college degree. That's an impressive 9 percentage point jump since 2000, putting the state in first place for gains in Latino college attainment. However, the gap between Latinos and whites remains stubbornly high at 29 percentage points.

The reasons why Latinos are struggling to obtain a college education are complex. Latinos are disproportionately poor, living in low-income communities where the schools aren't preparing children for the rigor of college courses. As they enter adulthood, many are supporting their families and don't have the luxury to focus on schoolwork. Nichols pointed out that Latinos are more likely to opt for community colleges and for-profit colleges, where graduation rates are lower. Many are the first in their families to attempt a degree.

Reports like this one are a helpful first step in identifying the most difficult obstacles. The next step at The Education Trust is to count how many Latinos ever enrolled in college in each state so that we can better understand how much of these low college numbers are due to college dropouts versus those who never attempt college. The solutions will be different depending on the answers. And they'll help determine the future of the U.S. workforce and economic prosperity.

This story about Latino college education was written by Jill Barshay and produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter.

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Behind the Latino college degree gap - The Hechinger Report

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Latino Americans, the largest and the fastest growing ethnic minority in the United States, are half as likely to hold a college degree as non-Hispanic white adults, an education gap that has been widening since 2000, according to a June 2018 report. "For us, it was surprising just how low the Latino degree attainment numbers [...]